Do y’all remember the time I tried Filipino snacks for the first time? That was over three years ago, but here’s this link to refresh yourselves on that. Technically I’d tried Filipino food because of the snacks. Just not the entrées like adobo.
Now three years after I tried Filipino snacks from a subscription box, I’m happy to report that I’ve finally tried a few Filipino entrées. And yes, that includes a meaty adobo. Look at that featured photo again. Don’t all that food look good and filling? Ahh, ‘twas good and filling.
There was a lot in that box, so lemme detail everything for you right now!
The first entrée I ate from my plate was the pork adobo. I could taste the fish sauce in it, and it blended in nicely with the savory flavors. It wasn’t too overpowering. The meat was tender and the texture was on point. It was reminiscent of something I’d eat in a stew. The adobo was soaked in broth, which is definitely how it maintained the flavor. I do wish there was more broth poured onto the adobo in the box for more of it. Though overall, harmonious.
The chicken adobo in my mother’s box was the same way. Savory, tender, all-around harmonious. Just more broth to pick at would’ve further enhanced the flavors. Though since my mother doesn’t like wet chicken, this dish wasn’t to her taste to begin with.
The second entrée coming from my box was the tocino. It means “bacon” in Spanish, and, just like bacon, this Filipino dish is made of pork. Main difference is that the pork is cured and in chunks. And ohhh, I really liked the sweetness and the hint of tang. Not the healthiest dish, but I’d say it was my favorite one.
Another entrée I tried (coming from my mom’s box) was the bistek. On point tenderness and texture. Although by itself, it wasn’t very flavorful. Probably because there wasn’t a lot of broth poured into it. I didn’t need overpowering amounts of flavor, but again, another scoop of broth would’ve made a difference. Though I must say, bistek pairs nicely with sweet chili sauce. Pairing it with fish sauce made it a bit too salty, but it was a testament to the bistek having been sufficiently salted.
I also tried the veggie pancit, the base from my mother’s box. It tasted fine. Definitely a passable base, but my base was the garlic rice. The garlic flavor lingered, but the rice was drier than I envisioned. Granted, sticky rice is meant to be paired with a flavorful entrée, especially umami-flavored ones. Am I right?
And the final food I tried was the appetizer—lumpia. Lumpias are just Filipino spring rolls, and they didn’t disappoint. The veggie lumpia was a delightful blend of the veggie and wrapper textures. The beef lumpia tasted like a mix of meat and potatoes and left a satisfying aftertaste of mild heat. And with sweet chili sauce—oh ‘twas very gooooood, yo.
Overall, the food was memorable. It was like my mother and I were feasting, which made trying Filipino food feel like an event. The boxes contained a lot of food, so it’s enough to eat across two meals. Just heat the leftovers in a microwave, and there you go!
I SO want to eat Filipino food again soon! The tocino is currently living in my mind rent-free. And my tongue actively recalls the flavors and craves it as we speak. Whew. My mother thought the food was alright but said that she wants to try other Filipino dishes. Especially those with more flavor. Like me, she also wanted more broth in her box to add flavor to her meal. We did get a scoop of broth into our boxes, but we shall ask for another one next time.
If you’ve ever tried Filipino food, tell me what your favorite dish is/was. If you’ve never tried Filipino food, what are you waiting for? Make a trip to your closest Filipino restaurant ASAP. Try the food and then come back here to tell me your favorite dish. I’m open to suggestions on what Filipino foods to try next.
